Youth Handball Research Articles

Co-Creating Injury Prevention Education And Training For Youth Handball Players Targeting End-Users At The Individual, Team And Organizational Levels

Co-Creating Injury Prevention Education And Training For Youth Handball Players Targeting End-Users At The Individual, Team And Organizational Levels

Evaluation of Plyometric Exercise, Strength Training on Physical Capabilities

Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare a 10-week period, in which strength training (five weeks) was followed by plyometric training (five weeks) or the other way around among handball players. Hypothesis: Performing strength training first and then plyometric training will improve lower body strength and performance more than the reverse training sequence. Methods: Thirty-six young handball players voluntarily participated in this research. Pre and post test data (running, changing direction, jumping, strength, throwing, and endurance) were compared between groups using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The results imply that a precise training regime for plyometric and strength training in young handball players is not required. Thus, strength and conditioning training plans created for the youth handball group can be effective regardless of the training regimen. Furthermore, when boosting back squat performance is the main objective, the outcomes of the contemporary research imply that completing plyometric training before a strength-centered training phase may be useful. Conclusion: It is concluded that professionals arrange training schedules to enhance athlete compliance and concentrate on the most important results.

Снижение психологических барьеров принятия ответственности у гандболистов-подростков: лонгитюдное исследование

The paper reflects the results of a formative experiment aimed at increasing the readiness of adolescent athletes to take responsibility by reducing the psychological barriers that make it difficult. Responsibility as a personal quality is relevant in any activity, and adolescence is a sensitive period of its manifestation. This demonstrates the resource component of adolescence for the transition to adulthood and accompanies success in determining one’s place in activity and socialization. The development of responsibility occurs due to its formation from childhood, in the process of learning by example and the transfer of freedom of action in feasible matters, which often contradicts our habitual paternalistic position of upbringing and involuntary support of infantilism of youth. The study of the literature and the earlier ascertaining stage of the study made it possible to identify personality qualities that act as barriers to the manifestation of responsibility in adolescence; they are: anxiety, low level of motivation and self-management, negative coping strategies (escaping or distancing), blaming other people or circumstances. This made it possible to select diagnostic material for evaluating the results of the formative experiment, based on the following six methods: determining the level of responsibility, motivation, self-regulation, coping strategies, anxiety, the level of group development, assessing the relationship between the coach and athletes. The longitudinal study involved 16 adolescent athletes from Krasnodar. The formative experiment of responsibility development was carried out using the methodology of psychological training in a youth handball team for a year. The effectiveness of the training was evaluated by three diagnostic sections. Changes in the absolute values of the measured indicators and correlations between them were taken into account. The results of the study showed that the factor preventing the removal of psychological barriers to accept responsibility is excessive anxiety of young athletes. The study demonstrates the need and importance for longitudinal psychological work with athletes.

The teaching of offensive skills against different defensive scenarios in handball: analysis of coaches' perspectives in different categories.

As it is observed that the selection of teaching approaches takes an important role in youth players' development, investigations regarding teaching handball at this age reveal a gap due to this theme. This study aimed to identify and analyze the coaches' preferred offensive skills through different defensive scenarios and how they are taught in youth handball teams. Twenty-two Brazilian coaches from teams U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18 were interviewed (semi-structured interview). Data analysis was performed through the Collective Subject Discourse and presented according to the teams and defensive systems faced. The coaches' discourses showed an increasing expectation throughout the age groups, and the expectation the players can deal with different situations based on their analysis. In addition, it was also found that teaching approaches are based on a technocratic way with further attempts to transfer the learned skills to the game context for all age groups. Therefore, it is suggested that greater attention must be paid while choosing skills and teaching approaches at each stage of the sports training process, in a way to stimulate youth players to deal critically and autonomously with game situations.

Youth athlete learning and the dynamics of social performance in Norwegian elite handball

This study examines how the social interactions of youth handball players are entangled with the ideals, beliefs and norms associated with youth athlete learning in Norwegian handball and communicated through coaching practice. This qualitative study uses Goffman's interactional sociological lens to explore how players strategically manage their interactions with peers and coaches by balancing the risks of overuse and injury with the need to be seen as promising, committed players. Our data collection was based on four focus group interviews and five individual interviews with 24 female youth handball players. The athletes reported that they conformed with the social rules and expectations of acceptable behaviour in handball because they wished to avoid being discredited in the eyes of their peers and coaches. Additionally, they engaged with these expectations through self-censorship and behavioural caution, because doing so allowed them to sustain their identity as promising athletes within the current framework of athlete development. They also feared being perceived as less committed to their development. The findings highlight how the normative expectations of youth athletes affect their sense of agency and control, the behaviours they engage in, and their understandings of what it means to be a good athlete. An understanding of how athletes perform socially in ways that facilitate opportunities for ongoing development will help to facilitate more productive, ethical and meaningful practice and pedagogies.

Effects of small-sided games on technical-tactical actions and physical performance in handball: a systematic review

Purpose.This systematic review aimed to investigate the acute and chronic effects of the task constraints of small-sided games on technical-tactical, physical, and physiological indicators in handball players.Methods.A systematic literature search was performed between 2000 and 2020 in SciELO, ISI Web of Science, SPORTDiscus by EBSCOhost, Medline, Redalyc, and Scopus. Studies in female and male youth and adult handball players which involved acute and chronic effects of small-sided games on technical-tactical, physical, and physiological indicators were considered. Methodological quality was determined for the included studies.Results.Altogether, 20 studies were included; 91% were published since 2014. The studies presented a mean of 80% in terms of methodological quality. Seven articles (35%) had a mean of 75% or less, and 13 articles (65%) had a mean above 75%. Decreasing on pitch area increased the total distance covered, while the smaller player format promoted increasing the total distance covered and time in sprints. Additionally, the time above 90% of the relative heart rate increased concomitantly with the player format increase.Conclusions.The greater individual playing area (i.e., the pitch area divided by the number of players) resulted in higher values of total distance covered. The results identified gaps in the knowledge on the effects of task constraints on collective dynamic and tactical behaviour in handball players to be analysed in further studies.

The Influence of Maturity Status on Dynamic Balance Following 6 Weeks of Eccentric Hamstring Training in Youth Male Handball Players.

Information about when to apply an appropriate eccentric hamstring strength training stimulus during long-term athlete development is essential for effective programming and improving balance performance. This study examined the effects of six-week eccentric hamstring training on dynamic balance performance in youth handball players of different maturity statuses (pre- or post-peak height velocity (PHV)). A randomized controlled design with 45 young male handball players (14.6 ± 0.3 years) from a local national handball club were randomly allocated to a 6 week, twice weekly eccentric hamstring training in two experimental groups: a pre-PHV (maturation offset: −2.13 ± 0.63, n = 10) and post-PHV (maturation offset: 0.79 ± 0.34, n = 12) group and two control groups: maturation offset: −2.09 ± 0.61, n = 10 and maturation offset: 0.55 ± 0.67, n = 13. Dynamic balance performance was evaluated by using the composite score during the lower quarter Y-balance test from pre- and post-intervention. A significant effect on balance scores was found from pre to post (F = 11.4; p = 0.002; η2p = 0.22), intervention (F = 5.4; p = 0.025; η2p = 0.12), and maturation (F = 369; p < 0.001; η2p = 0.9), but no significant interaction effects were found (F ≥ 3.3; p ≥ 0.077; η2p ≤ 0.07). Post hoc analysis revealed that the post-PHV group had a higher score than the pre-PHV group. Furthermore, that dynamic balance increased in the post-PHV group after intervention much more in the control post-PHV group. It was concluded that somatic maturation influences dynamic balance performance and that eccentric hamstring training results in greater improvement in balance performance in young male handball players for the post-pubertal group.

The Impact of (S.A.Q) Exercises on Developing Some Physical and Skill Abilities in Youth Handball Players

The study aims at: Preparing exercises using (S.A.Q) method and its impact on developing some physical fitness and skills abilities for youth handball players. Identifying the effect of (S.A.Q) exercises in developing some physical fitness abilities for youth handball players. It is hypothesized that: There are statistically significant differences between the two groups (experimental and control) for the pre and posttests in the development of some physical fitness and skill abilities for youth handball players. There are statistically significant differences between the two groups (experimental and control) for the post-test in the development of some physical fitness and skill abilities for youth handball players. The researchers have used the experimental method by designing the experimental and control groups with pre and post tests for its suitability and the nature of the current research problem. The research community is represented by the youth players of Salah El-Din Handball Club for the sports season 2020/2021 numbering to (22) players. A number of (4) players are excluded as follows (2) goalkeepers and (2) players, due to their participation in the pilot experiment. So, the number of sample members is (18) players constituting (81.8%) of the research community. Conclusions: The (S.A.Q) exercises have brought about a development in the studied fitness variables of quickness and agility. The exercises used have led to a development in the level of the offensive side, especially the skill of shooting, whether from the remote areas or those close to the goal.

Analysis of different training load monitoring methods in youth women handball players

This study examined the association between different methods for training load (TL) monitoring during youth handball training. Distance covered, heart rate and session rating of perceived exertion [SRPE] were recorded during 12 training sessions in 14 youth women handball athletes (16.9±1.1 years). Internal load models based on SRPE and Edwards’ Trimp were calculated. An oscillatory feature was observed for the three methods of TL assessment (SRPE: 383±159 A.U., Edwards’ Trimp: 252±71 A.U., total distance: 3997±1291 m). A large correlation was found between Edwards’ Trimp and distance covered (r=0.59). A moderate correlation was observed for Edwards’ Trimp vs. SRPE (r=0.36), and between SRPE vs. distance covered (r=0.49). Shared variances of 13–35% were observed between TL methods comparisons. The results suggest that different constructs seem to be measured by each load model. Additionally, SRPE is a simple and low-cost method that might be used for TL monitoring in handball.

Coaches’ opinions about teaching defensive skills for youth handball teams

Purpose It can be observed that coaching in youth sports may be based on technique development, while it is inspired by high-performance sports. As it is observed a lack of research that addressed the coaching process with youth handball teams in the Brazilian context, this study aimed to analyze what is expected for the defensive phase and how it is taught. Methods We interviewed 22 handball coaches from the U-12, U-14, U-16, and U-18 teams addressing the teaching of defensive skills when facing different offensive systems and the approaches used in the training sessions. The interviews were analyzed using the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) method. Results and discussion The coaches’ discourses revealed an increasing expectation due to players’ experience, but with stimulation of high-level sport since the youngest teams. The discourses also emphasized the use of traditional approaches and game-based approaches to apply the learned skill in the game context, independently of the age group. It was noted that the expectations of the coaches about players’ technical-tactical development and the approaches are controversial, especially when comparing the specific skills with the use of the traditional approach in the younger teams (U-12 and U-14 teams). It is suggested that more attention must be paid when choosing the defensive skills to be taught for youth players, and the chosen teaching approaches must promote a reflexive environment to learners.

Cocreating injury prevention training for youth team handball: bridging theory and practice

Although it is advocated that end-users are engaged in developing evidence-based injury prevention training to enhance the implementation, this rarely happens. The ‘Implementing injury Prevention training ROutines in TEams and...

"Yeah, I Mean, You're Going to Handball, so You Want to Use Balls as Much as Possible at Training": End-Users' Perspectives of Injury Prevention Training for Youth Handball Players.

Young handball players experience high injury rates. Specific injury prevention programs reduce injury rates but are not well implemented into youth players’ training. The ‘Implementing injury Prevention training ROutines in TEams and Clubs in youth Team handball (I-PROTECT)’ project addresses this challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate how youth handball coaches and players experienced the recently developed I-PROTECT GO pilot program, by focusing on barriers and facilitators. Three focus group interviews were conducted with coaches and players, and their answers were analyzed using a general inductive approach. The participants appreciated the program and found it useful for their context. The participants’ statements about facilitators and barriers centered around the categories of resources, exercises, program design, and learning. Facilitators that emerged were motivating exercises (e.g., handball-specific), a helpful set-up (e.g., variation), having a clear purpose of exercises, the possibility to fulfil basic psychological needs while training, receiving instructions and feedback, and having role models. Barriers that emerged were limited space and material, difficulties with exercises, an unhelpful set-up (e.g., too repetitive), and undisciplined training. It is important to address perceived barriers and facilitators among coaches and players when developing injury prevention training programs to enhance the uptake of such training.

Ndicators of physical fitness of handball players of the youth team of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Strict coordination of the orientation of the educational and training process and the specific requirements of competitive activity is necessary to further improvement of the methods of modern sports training. The whole process of long-term preparation of a sportsman should be focused on the effective prediction of the potential capabilities of a sportsman and the minimization of pedagogical errorsin determining the modes of training loads in the youth development period. The purpose of the researchis to improve the special physical training of handball players of youth age. Material and research methods.30 sportsmen, members of the youth handball team with sports qualifications –candidates in masters of sports and the 1stcategory were examined. The control group trained according to a traditional program designed for handball players of youth age. Integrated training methods are used in the training process of the experimental group, including specific means used in game sports. Results.Using the experimental program in the training process of the experimental group made it possible to reliably increase the performance in 3000 m run, 1000 m run, in the triple jump, in dribbling 8 (p&lt;0,05). Other tests were also positive, but their changes were unreliable (p&gt;0,05). Controls tended to improve, but the changes were insignificant (p&gt;0,05). Conclusions.Using the experimental program improved the physical fitness of handball players of the experimental group. The qualitative growth was 3000 m in running –7,11%, in 1000m run -by 8,66%, in shuttle run -by 4,26%, in a complex exercise -by 2,13%, in triple jump -by 6,74%, in shots for accuracy -by 10,5%, in dribbling 8 -by 8,2%, in bending and breaking hands in hang on a crossbar -by 13,04%.

The relationship between the perception of reduced performance due to injury or illness and basic psychological need satisfaction in Norwegian youth elite handball: a cross-lagged panel analysis

This study investigated the relationship between perceived reduction in performance due to injury or illness (RPII) and basic psychological need satisfaction in youth elite handball. Participants were 174 elite youth handball players between 15 to 18 years of age, from five different sport schools. It was a quantitative study, with two time points (one week apart), resulting in a crossed-lagged structural equation model. Competence and relatedness satisfaction were found invariant across the two time points, autonomy was not. The structural model showed good fit ((S- B χ²) = [df = 130, N= 174] = 182.327, p &lt; .0017; CFI = .96; RMSEA = .05 [.03-.06], and SRMR = .08). Competence (β= .64, 95%CI: .51, .76), relatedness (β= .77, 95%CI: .66, .88) and RPII (β= .51, 95%CI: .37, .66) showed moderate temporal stability. When accounting for previous levels of the basic psychological needs, RPII negatively predicted competence (β= -.20, 95%CI: -.35, .83) and relatedness (β= -.16, 95%CI: -.30, -.01). Taken together, these findings suggest that experiencing RPII can have implications for basic psychological need satisfaction in youth elite handball, showing that factors other than psychosocial ones may play a role therein.

Assessment of the lower extremity functional and muscular performance in young female handball athletes

A low physical fitness and incorrect technique could result in muscle strength imbalance and poor dynamic/static balance in handball players. This study aimed to evaluate the muscular and functional performance of lower limbs in young handball athletes. Twelve female handball athletes performed isokinetic tests at 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s, and 240°/s for the knee’s extensor and flexor muscles and functional tests for lower limbs. There were no differences between the limbs in the knee’s muscles’ peak torque, while the values of the conventional ratio were below the recommended. In functional tests, no significant changes were observed. Nevertheless, the composite score of the Y-Balance test demonstrated values below the suggested. Overall, the results showed that female youth handball athletes had symmetry between the limbs; however, there was a tendency to muscle imbalance (hamstrings weaker than quadriceps), and dynamic balance deficits that might increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Possibilities of Handball Practice in Strengthening Heart Function in University Students

Systematic handball training stimulates the entire body and especially the heart. To improve the methods of practicing handball, it is necessary to further study the aspects of adapting the heart of young handball players to regular training. The study aims to find out the dynamics of the functional capabilities of the heart in youth handball players. The observation was carried out on 25 completely healthy youth handball players with at least 2 years of sports training experience. The control g

Planning and execution of handball goalkeepers training: a descriptive study in youth categories teams in Brazil

Aim: This study aimed to describe how specific training for goalkeepers of youth handball teams is planned and executed in Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive and quantitative study was based on information from 134 coaches responsible for specific training of handball goalkeepers for youth (under 12 - U12; U14; U16; and U18) teams. The selection of participants was non-randomly for convenience, using the virtual snowball method. The information was obtained through an online self-completion questionnaire carried out by the Google Forms platform. The questionnaire data were tabulated and assessed using the SPSS statistical program, and the information was presented using descriptive statistics. Results: The results show that specific training of goalkeepers occurs in 71.1% of youth handball teams. About the structure of the specific training session, most of it is performed 1 or 2 times a week (70.9%), lasting from 25 to 60 min (73.9%) and given by the team's leading coaches (77.6%). More than half of the participants stated that the training session occurs with the goalkeepers and the person in charge (55.2%). Most participants (69.4%) stated that the teams analyze and assess the goalkeepers' performance, and the training planning takes place weekly (39.6%). Conclusion: This data provides essential information that partially fills gaps in the literature and allows researchers and coaches to reflect on their practices, considering the importance of planning specific training for goalkeepers.

Diverging Playing Positions do not Lead to Differences in YBT-UQ Performance in Youth Handball Players

Handball playing positions can be differentiated between first line players who position themselves near the 6-m line and second line players who typically play outside the 9-m space. Handball is characterized by a high number of throwing actions that cause adaptations in the throwing shoulder. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess whether the specific physiological positional demands in handball lead to functional performance differences between the playing positions ( N =196; goalkeepers: n =25; backcourt: n =99; pivots: n =21; winger: n =51) in terms of shoulder mobility and stability in any reach direction as assessed through the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-UQ). Contrary to our hypothesis, the results did not show significant differences between the playing positions in shoulder mobility and stability in youth handball players, irrespective of reach arm and reach direction. The obtained effect sizes ( η p 2 ) were solely small and ranged between 0.01 and 0.03. The adaptations following the demands of the diverging playing positions do not lead to significant differences in shoulder mobility and stability on the basis of the YBT-UQ. The overall training load of youth handball players may not be sufficient to lead to significant position-specific differences in shoulder mobility and stability.

Contextual information in situations of uncertainty: The value of explicit-information provision depends on expertise level, knowledge acquisition and prior-action congruency

In behavioral control, contextual information is used alongside incoming sensory inputs to reduce uncertainties about the unfolding situation. However, our understanding of this weighting process is limited; particularly regarding the applied question of whether individuals should be provided with information or whether they should rather generate it by themselves. We thus compared the provision of more or less valid (i.e., “true”) contextual information with a self-generation condition by examining the performance of elite and near-elite youth handball players (N = 30 + 27) in a virtual-reality defensive task. We measured response correctness, positioning as a function of the teammates’ defensive behaviors and the degree to which the experimentally induced patterns in the teammates’ strengths were detected. The results show that providing individuals with uncertain information neither enhances nor harms performance decisively. However, valid information enhances performance in congruent situations while degrading performance in incongruent situations, more pronouncedly in elite than in near-elite players. Consequently, individuals should be provided with explicit contextual information only if (i) their expertise level is not adequate enough to rely on self-generation, (ii) the situation-specific knowledge base cannot be sufficiently self-generated, and (iii) the instructor is sufficiently certain that the explicit information actually meets the upcoming situation.

Pain medication use in youth athletes: A cross‐sectional study of 466 youth handball players

The aim of this study was to determine the 4-week prevalence of pain medication use in youth athletes, the type of medication used, the reasons for use, and from where the athletes obtained the medication. 466 handball players (aged 14-18) were surveyed about their pain medication use within the preceding 4 weeks. The questionnaire consisted of 3 parts: type of pain medication used (if any; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen/paracetamol, and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)), the reasons for use, and from where it was obtained. 190 players (41% [95% CI 36%-45%]) reported pain medication use within the last 4 weeks. Paracetamol was the most reported type (n = 157, 83% [95% CI 77%-88%]), followed by NSAIDs (n = 98, 52% [95% CI 44%-59%]); 67 reported “injury-related reasons” for their use, and most participants reported to obtain the pain medication via “from home or bought over-the-counter (OTC)” (n = 167, 88% [95% CI 82%-92%]). Pain medication use in youth handball players is common, particularly among female players, and a substantial proportion of the overall use is due to injury-related reasons. The vast majority of the players got their pain medication from home or purchased it OTC. Further research is needed to comprehend these patterns of use, including the long-term use.